WELCOME TO THE TWO-OVER-ONE SYSTEM

You have reason to feel confident about your grasp of SAYC and wonder if it is time to expand your horizons. You want guidance so that you understand all those alerts with explanations, "game forcing", "forcing notrump" and the like. With a BRIDGE FORUM teacher, you will get hands-on experience, learn the differences between SAYC and Two-Over-One. Useful conventions will be introduced to enhance your bidding and you will indeed feel very proud when you sit at a bridge table, partner asks you which system you play, and with confidence you answer, “ SAYC or Two-Over-One? Your choice partner!"

INTRODUCTION TO TWO-OVER-ONE SYSTEM

LESSON ONE

The Bridge Forum International

1. VARIATIONS ON TWO OVER ONE SYSTEM

According to bridge pro, teacher and author Mike Lawrence, the following sequence is NOT game forcing:

Lawrence's approach to this system is such that when responder repeats a minor suit, the game force is OFF.

According to bridge pro, teacher and author Max Hardy in his book Two Over One Game Force and Two Over One: An Introduction, co-authored by Hardy and Steve Bruno, game forces are on in the above situation and over all interference bids, including N: 1¨ E: 2§ S: 2¨*

Our approach to the Two Over One System is more in keeping with Mike Lawrence's approach, although we shall also incorporate principles of The Law of Total Tricks, thus developing what one may called a Law-based Two Over One System.

2. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE TERM TWO OVER ONE?

A GAME FORCING auction is created when opener bids a suit at the one-level and you respond at the two- level in another suit.

Example: When one makes a response at the two-level, 1ª-2§*, here 2§* is alertable and shows at least a four-card club suit. The same would be true with 1ª-2¨* and 1ª-2©* (in the last example, responder is promising FIVE HEARTS.)

a) North: ª AKxxx © KJx ¨ Kxxx § xx

South: ª xx © AQx ¨ Qxxx § KJxx

Here the bidding would begin with 1ª by North and with no interference by the opponents, 2§* by South. (Note that if you held five diamonds and five clubs, you would bid diamonds as we bid four-card suits up the line and five-card suits down the line.)

b) North: ª AKxxx © KJx ¨ Kxxx § xx

South: ª Qx © AQxxx ¨ x § KQxx

The bidding begins with 1ª by North, and with no interference by the opponents, 2©* is game forcing and promises 5+ hearts.

3. INTERFERENCE BY THE OPPONENTS

When the opponents interfere PRIOR to responder’s two-level bid, 2/1 game force is OFF.

When the opponents interfere AFTER responder’s two-level bid, 2/1 game force is ON.

With example a) the intervening bid, whether a suit or double comes AFTER the game force between you and partner, therefore 2¨ is a GAME FORCE.

With example b) the intervening bid comes PRIOR to responder’s 2¨ bid. Now 2¨ reverts to its SAYC-like meaning of diamonds (presumably 5 with 10 HCP+).

4. GAME FORCING BIDS

We now have a variety of ways to force:

a)Two-Over-One (or to the 4 level of a minor and without direct interference)

b)Jump Shifts: with no interference by opponents: 1©-1ª 3¨-?

c)Reverses showing 17+ HCP and forcing for one round.

d)A 2§ opener tends to be forcing to game.

e)In a bidding sequence such as this:

Doubling and then cue bidding opponent’s bid suit is game forcing

f) Jacoby 2NT

g) Splinter bids

h) Fourth Suit Forcing

Above you have had a portion of a first lesson note used in learning the two-over-one system. Also, with hands generated specifically for learning 2/1, we will deal with all types of game forcing and competitive auction. The focus will clearly be on two-over-one bidding with the forcing notrump, the cornerstone of this system.

Additionally, we will of course look at HCP, but this is one of a number of factors which helps us evaluate our hand and re-evaluate as the bidding progresses. We will put the Law of Total Tricks (LOTT) into action by using various conventions to help one pinpoint the partnership’s combined trump fit as well as looking at all the trick-taking potential of hand. Thus the intention is to teach a new system to those who choose to take this course, learn useful conventions and impart knowledge that will help you better evaluate your hand.

HAPPY BRIDGING J

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